Politics

US and the allied forces gave military bases back to Iraqi military after the war with ISIS ended. US forces themselves decided to remain in two bases, one in Erbil, Kurdistan, one in Ein-al-Assad, Anbar, West of Iraq. The reason for the US to remain in Anbar is their motivation to cut of Iran’s route in the location of Anbar, located on the Syrian border and used frequently by Iranian militias. The US also positioned patriot missile rockets arguing that this is for protecting themselves after Iranian militias have attacked them.

To start his premiership, Al-Zurfi initiated to present his cabinet to the Iraqi parliament and to the president of the parliament, Muhammed Al-Halbusi (Part of Sunni Islamist political party). Muhammed Al-Halbusi announced to make the parliament session public on TV. However, at the same time, 8 pro-Iran militias threatened the government and the politicians in an official manifesto to not vote for Al-Zurfi’s government. This is the reason why the Iraqi government failed to hold the session and vote for Al-Zurfi.

At the same time, the militias attacked the US embassy in Baghdad with three rockets. These militias are part of the Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd Al-Sha’abi) and thereby get funded through the Iraqi state. Therefore, the militias can be considered part of the Iraqi state. The militias are guided and shaped by Iranian Islamist ideology and personnel.

For the Iraqi people, and especially for the protestors, the frequent change of prime ministers looks like a power game to keep Adil Abdul Mehdi in his position for as long as possible. Adil Abdul Mehdi was the prime minister before the October uprising started. He resigned after the pressure from protestors. Until another prime minister is found, he will serve as temporary prime minister.

After Adnan Al-Zurfi failed to build a new government, Barham Salih nominated Mustafa al-Kathimi as new prime minister. Until now, he is the head of the Iraqi intelligence service. He still remains to be voted for by the Iraqi parliament.

Corona Virus

In Iraq, there are more than 2000 cases of infections. The Iraqi health ministry argues that the low number might be for many different reasons, such as the heat and the fact that many Iraqis have BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccinations. The government had also ordered a curfew. This curfew has caused a problem for precarious workers who live on a day-by-day basis. The government did not pay any money or unemployment insurance to these people.  During the corona pandemic, domestic violence rates against women have increased. Suicides among women in their homes have occurred as well as increased domestic violence between married couples.

Many cases of severe violence against women have appeared on social media sites as men, whether husband, father or brother are staying at home.

And, with the lack of state support, protestors organized their own independent actions to fight the corona virus. Thus, they took the initiative to conduct independent sterilization campaigns in different neighborhoods. The protestors also decided to leave Baghdad’s Tahrir square, deciding that 20 percent of the protestors remain in the tents. At the same time, protestors in the square produced 6000 masks which they distributed to the hospitals for free.

During that time, protestors created a hashtag promising that the revolution will rise again. This hashtag gained much prominence on twitter. It evolved and protestors explained that they want to storm the green zone and organize themselves to strengthen the demonstrations after corona pandemic ended. Some protestors think that the curfew became an argument to suppress and control people and save the system. On 24 of April, part of the Al-Hashd al-Sha’bi forces who are not pro-Iran, but rather pro-al Marjaiye Diniye (in reference to al-Sistani as the highest Shi’a religious authority in Iraq) decided to join the Iraqi army.

On April 30, these forces that separated, have joined the Iraqi protest as civilians and supporters. Some of the protestors are welcoming them. Other protestors think that these forces who separated from Hashd- Al Shaabi, backed by Al-Sistani will use the protests for their own political profit as Muqtada al-Sadr and his followers are doing.

On the same day in which they joined the protests, some of the protestors announced that on May 10 the revolution shall rise again to its prior strength.

Economics

Oil prices in Iraq dramatically fell. As Iraq’s state income rests for 99 per cent on oil, this deeply affects social and economic life in Iraq. With a reduced state income, the government might not be able to pay the salaries of its employees.

The state therefore wants to cut some of their employees’ salary to compensate for the loss of oil income. This means that this compensation will happen on the backs of workers rather than for example oil companies or the state. As workers against sectarianism, we believe that these developments might lead more people to join the Iraqi revolution.

Another economic sector is agriculture. Iraq produces wheat, like barley and rice. At the end of each season, many fires happen in the agricultural farms and also local markets (for example in Baghdad Shorje and Baghdad Jedide). Fish in the river is also poisoned. Reasons remain unclear. Many analysts believe that the Iranian state is behind these fires as it would benefit them to import their own products. Thereby, Iraq would remain depended on Iranian imports.

Workers against Sectarianism / April

30/6/2020